If you’ve never heard of the Old Ghost Road, you’re not alone. Completed in 2015, the OGR is a 53-mile singletrack bike trail on the West Coast of the South Island. Located in the most rugged and remote part of New Zealand, it’s far off the beaten path and one of the best-kept adventure secrets in the country, if not the entire world. After learning about it from a Kiwi friend, our correspondent Andy Cochrane immediately started planning a trip.
The route is inspired by a mining road that was surveyed in the late 1800s and later lost to history. It took eight years, $6.5 million and 26,500 man hours to build, using a mix of dynamite, helicopters, small machines and hand tools. Despite receiving a small fraction of fanfare of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Old Ghost Road is perhaps the best singletrack in the country. A true hidden gem.
Grilling and smoking food outdoors are two of life’s great pleasures. But depending on where you live, the weather can be an unwelcome factor in your cooking routine. We’ve talked previously about how to tackle cold-weather grilling, but it’s also possible to run into issues using your smoker when the temperature drops.
To help you through the season, here are 10 tips to remember when smoking meat in the winter. After you get acquainted with our advice, try your hand at the delicious smoked pork chili recipe we’ve included.
